UK: Cast of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" talk about the film's unique take on the Holocaust at the world premiere in London

Record ID: 643690

  • Title: UK: Cast of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" talk about the film's unique take on the Holocaust at the world premiere in London
  • Date: 12th September 2008
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 11, 2008) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARK HERMAN, DIRECTOR, SAYING: "Well I mean what attracted me to the project is not that it's a holocaust film seen through the eyes of a child. But it's actually seen through the eyes of a German child. I found that like a unique angle from John Boyne's book, which um, and that's what really attracted me."
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2008 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVA16HMABTUH1GSKO69BK2UJM8EB
  • Story Text: Stars including Dustin Hoffman gathered in Mayfair, one of London's most affluent areas, for the world premiere of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" on Thursday (September 11) night.
    The heavy theme of the film, which revolves around the Holocaust, was forgotten for a brief moment as the cast and crew celebrated their success.
    "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" is based on the book by Irish author John Boyne published in 2006. It was originally meant as a children's book but quickly found an adult audience and also received international acclaim. It was a Top 10 bestseller in the UK, a New York Times bestseller and made it to number one in Australia.
    The book's success is largely seen to be because it shows a historical event in a different light.
    "Well I mean what attracted me to the project is not that it's a holocaust film seen through the eyes of a child. But it's actually seen through the eyes of a German child. I found that like a unique angle from John Boyne's book, which um, and that's what really attracted me," said Director Mark Herman.
    This German child is a nine-year old boy called Bruno (played by Asa Butterfield), the son of a high-ranking German soldier. The opening scene show Bruno coming home to a bit of fanfare where he is greeted by news that his father has been promoted, and that the family is moving to the countryside.
    With wide-eyed innocence the young boy sees a "farm" close by, inhabited by "farmers" wearing "striped pyjamas". That it is a labour camp filled with Jews was not explained by the boy's parents.
    Bruno goes on exploring,up at the periphery of the camp and meets another young boy his age called Shmuel (PRON: Shmol). The two immediately hit it off and become friends.
    Throughout the film, the characters display different aspects of their personality, with some even going through complete transformations.
    David Thewlis, whose previous work includes playing Remus Lupin in Harry Potter, is one of the more complex characters of the film -- he's both the young boy's father, and a 'Herr Kommandant'.
    "So the fact that you're saying that this man loved his children, and was also capable of mass murder, is an enormous challenge for an actor to try and portray that. But rather than making it harder it actually makes it easier because it stops it being a stereotype," Thewlis said.
    Making the film was definitely a rewarding experience for all cast members, with each one taking something different from it.
    "When I went on the set, the bit when they saw the one in the striped pyjamas, the camp, it was just, you know it was like, 'Oh my God!', you don't just realise. And seeing all like, the um, swastikas all over the place, and everyone in their Nazi uniforms, it was just like, wow, it's just a really big shock you know, you don't realise how it's gonna affect you. It really did," said Amber Beattie, who plays Bruno's older sister Gretel.
    "It was very kind of a draining experience. I know David Thewlis and I both were comparing notes on, at the end of the day, you felt very kind of, tired, from having to inhabit that world the whole time. But we, all of us thought it was such a great story and that it really was a very original way of looking at the Holocaust and we thought that we had to be as truthful to it as we possibly could," added Rupert Friend, who portrays Lt. Kotler, a fearsome German soldier.
    Whatever the case may be, this film is indeed moving and all involved are hoping for it to have an impact.
    American actress Vera Farmiga, the only non-British actor in the cast, gives her two-cents worth on the film's message.
    "I think that's the message. And, to find a childlike wonder.
    Because this is a film where children, they reveal flaws in an adult world. To walk through life with your eyes wide open," she said.
    The film hits theatres in the UK on September 12.
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